Control mechanism for water heating systems



5, 1933- v w. J. GRIFFITHS 1,937,565

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 3, 1933 nvehrbr w J. GTjffjHlS Patented Dec. 5, 1933 CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WATER HEATING SYfiTEMS I William J. Griifiths, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 7 Application February 3, 1933. Serial No. 655,062

7 Claims. o1.'1s7-144) This invention relates to control mechanism intended particularly for automatically maintaining a predetermined pressure in a water heating system. A device for this purpose requires the use of two valves one opening to admit water under pressure from a source of supply when the pressure in the system falls below a predetermined minimum and the other opening to permit water to escape from the system when the pressure. therein increases above a predetermined maximum. In the present invention my object is to devise a common control for both valves, thus avoiding double adjustments and enabling closer regulation to be obtained.

A further object is to devise a special arrangement in connection with theinlet valve whereby the latter will rapidly open and remain fully open until sufficient fresh water has been brought into the system to restore the pressure and which will then move rapidly from the unseated to the seated position, thus enabling a quick filling of the system to be obtained.

A still further object is to devise a construction which will itself act as a safety valve in the event of the pressure within the system rising to near a dangerous degree, and thus. avoid the necessity for using a separate safety valve in the system. .I attain my object'by means of the constructions hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing'in which open;. and

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved control apparatus with the inlet valve Fig. 2 is a vertical section with inletvalve closed andexhaust valve open.

In the drawing like numerals of reference in-. dicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a hollow valve body formed with a threaded connection'2 by means of which the device may be connected with a water heating system. In the body are formed the inlet opening 3 and the outlet. opening 4.

' Connected with the valve body 1 isthe inlet valve casing 5 which is provided with an inlet connection 6 adapted to be connected to asupply of water under pressure. The valve casing 5is formed with a valve seat '7 at the end of and in axial alinement withthe inlet opening 3. The valve 8 is adapted to engage the seat and is provided with a fluted guide. extension 9 slidable through the valve seat and opening 3.

Opposite the valve seat 7' an opening is formed in the valve casing 5 through whichthe valve pose which will hereinafter appear.

may be inserted and which is closed by a threaded cap 10. j. The lower end of the valve 8 is connected with a metallic bellows 12, the lower end of the latter' being provided with an annular flange; 13. by 1 means of which it may be clamped between the end of the body 5 and cap 10. v

A passage 14 is formed through said valve :8 and extension 9 communicating with the interior of the metallic bellows, and in this passage is slidable the stem 11 of avalvelhwhich is adapted to lie against a valve seat 16 at the lower endof the valve 8. A spring 17 engaging the under side of the valve and the inner surface of the cap 10 normally tends to hold the valve15 seated. ---The valve 15 isprovided with a post 18 to hold ,the spring in place. A by-pass 19 is provided through the valve S'between the interior of the-bellows12 and the interior of the valve casing 5 for a purv I5 The passage 19 is preferably provided with an adjusting screw 42 by means of which the amount of flow through'said passage may be controlled. Thepassage 1'4 and the stem 11 are so'shaped relative to one another as to permit the fiow .of 30 water along saidv passage when the valve 15'is unseated. In the preferred form the passage is circular in cross section while the stem is square in cross section. I

In order that the pressure required for the un-' 35 v seatingof the valve 15 may be adjusted, the stem ll'is adjustably connected with said valve. This is accomplished by providing a threaded hole in the valve 15 and extension 18 in which i the threaded end of the stem 11 is fitted."

A screen 41 ispreferably positioned about the valve8.

Connected to the body, is a housing 20 through one end of which is formed apassage in alinement with the outlet 4', and through the side of which is formed an outlet 21. At the end of the passage 22 is formed a-valve seat 23 on which is adapted to seat a valve 24, which is provided with a fiutedstem 25 slidable in; the passage 22. The other end of the housing 20 is open, but is nor mally closed by. a plug 26 threaded in said open end. A spring 2'7. bearing against the end of the plug normally tends to hold the valve 24 seated. To actuate the valves I provide the following mechanism. The upper end of the valve body 1 is provided with a removable closure plate 2 8 by means -.of ,which. a metallic bellows 29 may be secured in position by means'of its flange 30,

- to unseat it,- acts as an efficient safety valve thus provided with a plate 31 to which is secured the;

member 32 through which the valves are operated, said member being provided at one side with a laterally extending arm 33 which is adapted under certain conditions of the system to actuate the stem 11 to unseat the valve 12.

i This member 32 is provided with a lug 34 which is adapted to engage one end of a lever 35 piv- I asfollows.

oted on a post. 36 formed on the head of the housing 20. The other end of this lever is adapted to engage the end of the fiutedstem 25 of the valve 2a. V

The-plate 31 of the bellows is engaged by one end of acoil spring 3'2. The otherend of the spring bears against a plate 38 carried by or controlled by a screw 39 threaded through the 010- sure plate 23 whereby the pressure ofsaid spring onthe plate 31 may be adjusted. The pres-, r sure of the spring, however, must besuch that,

when the pressure in the system falls below a predetermined minimum, the pressure tending to 29 is insufiicient to balance 'to engage rock the'lever 35 to push down on the stem and thus unseat the valve 24, al, lowing escape through the outlet 4, the passage 22,'the housing 2G'and outlet 21, the latter being preferably connected with drain. As the'pressure, drops,"the bellows 29-willreturn to its nor-. inal condition, thus relieving pressure on the stem 25 from-the lever "and allowing the spring2'7 to again seat the Valve 24. r

Assuming now the pressure drops below a prodeterinine'd m'inimum, the bellows 29 expands and the arm 33 on the member 32 engages-the stem, 11 and unseats the valve 7, thus allowing the water within thebellows 12 to escape through the passage 14, the pressure of the water acting on the outside of thebellows 12 contracts the latter and unseats the valve 8, thus allowingwater'to enter thesystem through thepassage 3.

the pressure in the system increases dueto the inflow of water the bellows 29 is contracted thus relieving pressure of the arm 33 on the stem 11 and allowing the valve 15 to seat. Water then 7 enters the interior of the bellows 12 through the passagelQ, but at a veryrestricted rate due'to the small size of said passage, and as the pressure within and without the bellows 12 becomes equalized, thev spring 17 which seated the valve will; throughcontin'ued' pressure on the latter, quickly move the valve 8 to seated position,thus closing the inlet 3.

' It will be seen that through the comparatively large area of the bellows plate 31 relative to the size of the valves, the device is very effective in providing a positive opening for the exhaust valve 24. 7 I

It will also be seen that the valve 24, being ar ranged so that pressure within the system tends avoiding the provision of a special safety valve in the system v A From the above description it will be, seen that I have devised a construction which will'satisiactorily attain the objects of my invention as set forth in the preamble of the specification."

What I claimas my invention is: v V 1. In a control device ior'water'heating systems, a hollow body member adapted for comsaid valves.

munication with said system and having an inlet and anoutlet opening; an inlet passage with which the inlet opening communicates; valves controlling said openings from without the body; springs tending to close saidvalves; a stem on said outlet valve projecting within the body; inlet valve control rneans extending within the body; a valve actuating member adapted to one gage the inlet valve controlnieans; avlever pivoted within thebody, oneend of said lever being adapted to engage the stem or" the outlet valve and the other end of the lever being adapted to be engaged by the valve actuating member; a spring tending to move the valve actuating member in one direction; and means actuable by fluid v pressure in the chamber tending to move said member in the reverse direction;

tame, a hollow body member adapted for com- "munication with said system and having an in- 2. In a control device for water heating syslet and an outlet opening; valves controlling said openings from without the body; springs tend ing to close said valves; a stem on said outlet valve projecting within the body inlet valve con trol'means extending within the body; a valve actuating member adapted to engage the inlet valve control means to unseat the inlet valve when said valve actuating member moves in one direction; means operable by the valve actuating member for unseating the: outlet .valve when said valve actuating member moves inthe other direction; a spring tendingito move'the valve actuating member in one direction; and means actuable by fluid pressure in the chamber tending to move said member in the reverse direction,

said h0l1ow.,body member having an opening for 7 connection with a water heating system..

3; In a controldevice for water heating systems, a hollowv body member adapted for com munication with said system and having an. inlet.

and an outlet opening; an inlet passage with whichsaid inlet opening communicates; a valve controlling the cutletopening; a valve controlling the inlet opening, said inlet valve having a passage formedaxially therethrough; a bellows chamber of which said passage forms the outlet;

a valve within the bellows chamber controlling said outlet'passage; a stem for said valve extending through said passage into the hollow body member; means normally tending to hold said last mentionedvalve and the'inlet valve seated, said bellows chamber having .arestricted inlet; and means within theihollow body mem ber for actuating the first mentioned outlet valve andthe' bellows chamber outlet valveto unseat said-valves.

In a control device for watercheating systems, a hollow body member adapted for come munication with said system and' havin'g antinlet andan outlet opening; an inletpassage with which said inlet opening communicates; a valve' controlling the outlet openings; a valve control- 7 ling the inlet opening, said inlet valve having-a passage formed axially therethrough; a bellows chamber of which said passage. forms the outlet; a valve within thebellows chamber controlling said outlet passage; an adjustable stem for said valve extending through said passage into" the hollow body member; means normally tending to hold said last mentioned valve and the inlet valve seated, said bellows chamber having a restricted inlet; and meanswithin the hollow body mem ber for actuating thefirst mentioned outlet valve and the bellows chamber outlet valve to unseat its 5. In a control device for water heating systems, a hollow body member adapted for communication with said system and having an inlet and an outlet opening; an inlet passage with which said inlet opening communicates; a valve controlling the outlet opening; a valve control-' ling the inlet opening, said inlet valve having a passage formed axially therethrough; a bellows chamber of which said passage forms the outlet; a valve within the bellows chamber controlling said outlet passage; a stem for said valve extending through said passage into the hollow body member; means normally tending to hold said last mentioned valve and the inlet valve seated, said bellows chamber having an adjustable -restricted inlet; and means within the hollow body member for actuating the first mentioned outlet valve and the bellows chamber outlet valve to unseat said valves.

6. In a control device for water heating sys.

ling the inlet opening; said inlet valve having; a passage formed axially therethrough; a bellows chamber of which said passage forms the outlet; a valve within the bellows chamber controlling said outlet passage; an adjustable stem for said valve extending through said passage into the hollow body member; means normally tending to hold said last mentioned valve and the inlet valve seated, said bellows chamber having an adjustable restricted inlet; and means within the hollow body member for actuating the first mentioned outlet valve'and the'bellows chamber outlet valve to unseat said valve. I v v 7. In a control device for water heating systems, a hollow body member adapted for communication with said system and having an in- 7 let and an outlet opening; an inlet passage with which said inlet opening communicates; a valve controlling the outlet opening having a stem extending within the body member; a valve conling said outlet passage; a stem for said valve extending through said passage into the hollow body member; means normallytending to hold said last mentioned: valve and the inlet valve seated, said'bellows chamber having a restricted inlet; means within the hollow body member for bellows chamber outlet valve to unseat said valves comprising a valve actuating member adapted to engage 'the stem of the, bellows chamber outlet valve; a lever pivoted within the body, one end of said lever being adapted to engage the stem of the first mentioned outlet valve, and the-other end of the lever being adapted to beengaged by the valve actuating member; a spring tending to move the valve actuating member in one direction; and means actuable by fluid pressure in the chamber tending to movesaidmember in the reverse direction. f V V r WILLIAM J. GRIFFITHS,

actuating the first mentioned outlet valve and the s5 trolling the inlet opening, said inlet valve having I 

